Scots Killer Who Stabbed Grandfather in the Heart Dies in Prison
A convicted Scots killer, Calum Tole, who stabbed a grandfather in the heart with a kitchen knife, has died in prison. Tole, aged 42, passed away last week at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie after being taken from HMP Shotts, where he had been serving a life sentence.
Tole, then 30, was sentenced to life in 2012 for the brutal murder of Ronnie Fraser, 44, in a Dundee flat, reported by the Mirror. During his trial, Tole made a chilling boast about his life sentence, telling the Fraser family, “I’ll only be 45 when I get out.” The remark came as he was being sentenced for the senseless killing.
The murder occurred after a petty argument over cigarettes in a shared hallway of a block of flats. Tole and his girlfriend, both under the influence of drugs, repeatedly pestered Ronnie for cigarettes, which led to a confrontation. In the heat of the argument, Tole was injured, and later, in a fit of rage, he entered his girlfriend’s flat, grabbed a seven-inch kitchen knife, and returned to stab Ronnie in the heart. Ronnie’s partner witnessed the brutal attack.
Despite strong evidence, including witness testimony and DNA, Tole denied the murder. He initially claimed that his Chinese takeaway may have been spiked with drugs, and he used the defence of automatism, arguing that he was not in control of his actions. However, he later abandoned these claims and presented no evidence in his defense. A jury took just 30 minutes to find Tole guilty, according to the Daily Record.
At the time of his sentencing, Tole showed no remorse for the crime. He defiantly shouted in court, “Get a grip man – happy days. I’ll only be 45 when I get out.” His sickening response was heard by Ronnie’s grieving family.
Ronnie’s sister, Karen Beattie, spoke to the press after the sentencing, calling the murder a “cold, calculated and brutal act” by a “cowardly individual.”
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson confirmed Tole’s death, stating that Police Scotland had been notified and that a fatal accident inquiry would take place. Police Scotland confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.